Book Buddies February Meeting - CANCELLED

Due to snow related scheduling conflicts, the February 25th Book Buddies meeting has been cancelled.

At this time, after much consideration, I have decided to suspend the Book Buddies Book Club for the foreseeable future.  It has been my great pleasure to lead our book club for the past 7 years.  We have read some wonderful books and had some amazing book discussions.  I have enjoyed getting know all of the Book Buddies members and talking about books and reading with you.

The Book Buddies Blog will also be discontinued as of the end of February.  

Visit the Kids page of the library's website for details on all of the wonderful programs that are currently available for kids ages 0 - 12.

Thanks again to all the Book Buddies members who've attended over the years.  Keep reading and talking about books!

February School Vacation Week Activities @ the Library!

Looking for something to do during the February school vacation?  Come to the library!

Tuesday, February 17th @ 10:30am - Animal World Experience "Winter Wonders"
Ever wonder what animals do in the winter?  Join Animal World Experience and explore the many ways that animals survive in, and thrive in the winter.  What you find out will shock and amaze you!  Following the presentation, children will have the opportunity to interact with a variety of different animals.
No registration is required for this free program - just drop in!  For children ages 4 - 12.  Held in the lower level program room.

Wednesday, February 18th @ 10:30am - Sarah Gardner Music - "Warm Winter Sing-A-Long"
Join musician Sarah Gardner for a Warm Winter Sing-A-Long in the lower level program room.  Hear winter songs, dreidel rhymes and the Snowman Pokey!  Flap your flippers during the Penguin Dance and join in with the jingling and jumping.  No registration is required for this free event, just drop in!  All are welcome, however this program is best suited for younger children, ages 0 - 5.

Thursday, February 19th at 2:30pm - Chinese New Year Crafts
Celebrate the Chinese New Year by creating a variety of crafts at the library!   Ages 5 - 10. 
Registration required.  Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

Friday, February 20th at 2:30pm - Kids Movie Matinee: The Boxtrolls
Children ages 6 - 12 are invited to view the The Boxtrolls, rated PG.  Subterranean trolls raise an orphaned boy, who helps them fight back against an evil exterminator and make peace with the fearful residents of an upper-crust Victorian-era town known for its world-class cheeses.  No registration is required.  Held in the lower level program room.

Have a great week!

Valentine Chocolate Party

There are still space available if you'd like to attend the Valentine Chocolate Party tomorrow at 4:00pm.  Come make a variety of valentine crafts and enjoy hot chocolate and candy treats!  Sign up at the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.  Ages 6-12.

Happy Valentine's Day!

LEGO Club Monday!

The next meeting of the LEGO Club will be this coming Monday, February 9th from 4:00pm-6:00pm.  No sign up is needed - just drop in!  Open to ages 6 - 12.

LEGO Club will also meet on Monday, February 23rd from 4:00pm-6:00pm.

Come make something wonderful with LEGOs!

February Book Selection

The February Book Buddies Book will be... The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis.  We will meet to discuss this terrific graphic novel on Wednesday, February 25th at 4:00pm.  Please sign up if you plan to attend.

Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

Newbery Medal Winner and Honor Books

The ALA Youth Media Awards were handed out on Monday, February 2nd and the winner of the Newbery Award for the most distinuginshed contribution to American literature for children went to.... The Crossover by Kwame Alexander!

Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

There were also two Honor Books:

El Deafo by Cece Bell

The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

The moving story of the author's childhood told in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.

Congratulations to all!  

RICBA - Vote now!

Voting for the 2015 Rhode Island Children's Book Award is now underway!  Voting takes place at your local school... talk to your teacher or school librarian about casting your vote if you read at least 3 of the nominated titles.  The winner will be revealed in mid-March along with the 2016 nominee list of 20 awesome books to read!

Meeting Reminder

A reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Wednesday, February 4th at 4:00pm to discuss our January book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.  The meeting was postponed 1 week due to the snowstorm.

Hope to see you there!

Program Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for some wonderful February programs!

Sign up for the Valentine Chocolate Party taking place on Tuesday, February 10th at 4:00pm.  Kids ages 6 - 12 are invited to come make a variety of Valentine crafts and enjoy hot chocolate and candy treats! 

Tweens, ages 8 - 12, are welcome to attend a Sweet Treats program on Saturday, February 14th at 11:00am.  Make candy apple creations and other fun sweet treats.

Kids ages 5-10 can sign up to celebrate the Chinese New Year with crafts on Thursday, February 19th at 2:30pm (school vacation week).  Make a variety of Chinese New Year crafts.

All library programs are free and all materials are provided.  To register for any or all of these programs, visit the Children's Desk or call 847-8720 ext. 204.

January Meeting Postponed

Due to the upcoming Blizzard, the Book Buddies Book Club will NOT meet this coming Wednesday, January 28th at 4:00pm.  We will meet to discuss the January book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things on Wednesday, February 4th at 4:00pm.  Hope to see you there!

For those of you looking to get a jump-start on the February book, we will be reading The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis.  We will meet to discuss the February book on February 25th at 4:00pm.

Stay safe in the snow!

Meeting Reminder

A reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Wednesday, January 28th at 4:00pm to discuss Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.  Come for book discussion, snacks and a related activity.  Sign up now at the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Alvin Ho is on the 2015 St. Michael's Battle of the Books list, so if you are participating it's a great idea to come to book club!

Tween Activities

Calling all Tweens, ages 8-12!  Join Tween Advisory Group (TAG) and let us know about the types of things you'd like to do at the library.  The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 20th at 4:00pm.  No registration is required - just drop in!  TAG will meet once per month to discuss books, plan programs and work on special projects.  In addition, kids will enjoy a light snack and a craft activity at every meeting.  The January craft will be cardboard tube owls.

Before the next TAG meeting we have a Tween Craft program taking place on Saturday, January 17th @ 11:00am!  Get creative and construct your own winter snow globe scene.  Registration IS required... sign up now at the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Both activities will take place in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

Superhero Fiction

Alvin Ho is a big fan of superheroes including Plastic Man, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern and Aquaman. He also has a superhero alterego called Firecracker Man! He's only Firecracker Man on weekends and holidays because he says, "there's just no time for it." Here's what it means to be Firecracker Man: "I ran around our house, full speed ahead, screaming at the top of my lungs while beating on a garbage can lid. I was as noisy as a firecracker on Chinese New Year!"

Here are a few other books with main characters who have secret superhero identities...

The Hero Revealed by William Boniface (Extraorindary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, bk 1)

Ordinary Boy, the only resident of Superopolis without a superpower, uncovers and foils a sinister plot to destroy the town.

Horace Splattly, The Cupcaked Crusader by Lawrence David (bk 1)

When his little sister's magic cookies transform him into a flying, fire-breathing superhero, ten-year-old Horace Splattly has adventures which include confronting the monster at the school playground.

Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen (Shredderman, bk 1)

Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity--Shredderman!

The Great Cape Rescue by Phyllis Shalant (The Society of Secret Heroes)

Upon entering fourth grade, Fin and his friends think they must stop playing superheroes, until they discover that their game might become real through a magical cape, and the Society of Secret Superheroes is born.

LEGO Club Mondays in January!

LEGO Club returns every other Monday in January!  Drop-in on Monday, January 12th and on Monday, January 26th from 4:00pm - 6:00pm and build with LEGOs!  Bring your creativity and make exciting creations which will be displayed in the Children's Department for the 2 weeks between meetings. 

Please leave your own LEGOs at home so that no favorite pieces are lost.  All LEGOs must remain in the library so bring a camera to capture your creations!

No registration is required.  Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

Bilingual Storytime

Bilingual Storytime will take place on Saturday, January 10th at 11:00am!  Come for stories in Spanish and English with related activities.  No registration is required - just drop in!  Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.  See you Saturday!

Author Lenore Look and More Alvin Ho!

Lenore Look is the wonderful author of our January book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things!  Besides the Alvin Ho books, she is the author of Brush of the Gods and three books about Ruby Lu.  She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Find out all about her on her website.

There are now 6 Alvin Ho books for you to read and enjoy!

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking and Other Natural Disasters (Book 2)

When Alvin's father takes him camping to instill a love of nature, like that of their home-town hero Henry David Thoreau, Alvin makes a new friend and learns that he can be brave despite his fear of everything.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes (Book 3)

When second-grader Alvin Ho is invited to a birthday party given by a girl, his fear of everything causes him to dread going.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Dead Bodies, Funerals, and Other Fatal Circumstances (Book 4)

A fearful second grader in Concord, Massachusetts, learns about death when his grandfather's best friend passes away and he offers to accompany his grandfather to the funeral.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night (Book 5)

When fearful seven-year-old Alvin Ho learns that his mother is expecting a baby, he develops a sympathetic pregnancy--adding to his worry about the burglar who is targeting Concord, Massachusetts.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and Other Tourist Attractions (Book 6)

Fearful seven-year-old Alvin Ho goes on a trip to China with his family.

Rhode Island Children's Book Award

Four more books to get you reading and ready to vote for the 2015 Rhode Island Children's Book Award!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero (the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello), with other students but finds that come morning he must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Wissinger

In this novel told through poems, nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad, so when his pesky little sister horns in on their fishing trip, he is none too pleased.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

The Odyssey-like adventure of two boys' incredible quest on the Appalachian Trail where they deal with pirates, buried secrets, and extraordinary encounters.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.

LEGO Movie Saturday!

Join us on Saturday, January 3rd at 2:30pm for an afternoon showing of The LEGO movie, rated PG. No registration is required - just drop in!  Held in the lower level program room.

Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure, is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.